The Forgotten Germans of Russia - Volga Germans

Join us on an extraordinary journey of discovery as we delve into the fascinating history of the Volga Germans, a community often overlooked and forgotten. In this eye-opening video, we shine a light on the remarkable story of the Germans who settled in Russia's Volga region and the profound impact they had on the country's history.

Learn about the origins of the Volga Germans, tracing back to the 18th century when they were invited by Catherine the Great to settle in Russia. Discover the reasons behind their migration, their agricultural expertise, and their significant contributions to the development of the region.

Uncover the challenges and triumphs faced by the Volga Germans as they established thriving communities along the banks of the Volga River. Witness their perseverance in preserving their German culture, traditions, and language in a foreign land.

Explore the unique cultural fusion that emerged as the Volga Germans interacted with their Russian neighbors. Discover how their distinct German heritage intertwined with Russian influences, resulting in a rich and vibrant cultural tapestry.

Witness the turbulent times that affected the Volga Germans, from political and social upheavals to the hardships endured during World War I and the Russian Revolution. Understand the forced migrations and deportations they faced in later years, which drastically altered their lives and dispersed their communities.

Follow the journey of rediscovery as descendants of Volga Germans reconnect with their roots and revive their ancestral heritage. Witness their efforts in preserving the memory of their ancestors and reviving cultural traditions that were once on the brink of extinction.

Experience the emotional reunions and personal stories shared by descendants of the Volga Germans as they strive to understand and embrace their unique identity. Hear firsthand accounts of resilience, loss, and the enduring spirit that binds them together.

This video sheds light on a forgotten chapter in history, revealing the struggles, triumphs, and resilience of the Volga Germans. Subscribe now and join us as we delve into the captivating tale of a community whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the fabric of Russian history.

[ruffierniert]

My grandparents never left Russia before the war. As a result, they and their families ended up in the Soviet labor camps in Kazakhstan. Although only my maternal grandfather was from Volga, my other grandparents were Germans from different regions. They all shared the same fate. Family members starved or worked to death, or were killed for minor things like praying in secret. My grandparents survived and were forced to take Russian surnames and were forbidden to speak in German. My parents grew up mostly under Russian influence, only learned little of their heritage. We reimmigrated back to Germany in the 90s. I would have liked to talk to my grandparents about that topic but I was too young back then and didn’t know most of the history. I heard that my grandparents never wanted to talk about it either because it was such a painful memory.

[matt]

Thanks for this short clip. I found out my great-grandfather was a Volga German who immigrated to Nebraska in 1910. Unfortunately, my grandfather never knew his father so that rich heritage was gone in an instant. Trying to figure out how to research the history of Volga Germans prior to their arrival in Russia. I've also been educating myself as much as possible as to not forget the trials of the Volga Germans, much of which is the reason why I'm alive today.

[AnOnim-ddnb]

My great-grandparents were Volga Germans. They came to Argentina and formed a prosperous and large family, leaving numerous descendants. Argentina gave them everything and they were really happy here.

[JesseStipek]

My great, great grandfather was a Volga German. They came to Kansas from Russia in 1875... thankfully they missed the Great Purge.

[patrickstumpf]

My father is full Volga German (all of my great grandparents on my father’s side immigrated from the Volga to Fresno, CA). I grew up with the stories of the Volga and some damn good bierocks! Thanks for this clip!

[DU-Rban]

Mine were Volga Germans too. They were forced to move to Kazakhstan, some time later my mom was born near Astana. My farher was also born in Kazakhstan, near Almata, but he has no Volga German heritage. After the fall of the USSR they wanted to flee to Kanada, where I have a lot of relatives. Germany was kind of a mid stop before traveling further, but my parents just stood there, in the state of Thüringen, because they thought it was fine too and my grandparents wouldn't be able to travel to Kanada (they were just denied entry), so they stayed, they moved to Hessen and then I was born. I remember my grandmother telling me stories of when her grandmother told her how they were exiled to Kazakhstan, many of her siblings died because of hunger and cold and after the USSR basicly the same problem, that's why they fled

[mantistobogganmd]

My grandfathers family were Wolgadeutsch, my great grandfather went and worked in South America for a few years and then made his way up to Saskatchewan, Canada. He met someone from his old village of Schuck and that person told him that his brother had settled near a town that was on the Saskatchewan/Alberta border. He made his way there, meeting my great grandmother whose family had left a few years prior, now their descendants are spread throughout Western Canada & the United States. I intend to teach my children about our culture as best as I can.

[fdijkstra]

My great-great grandparents were also Volga Germans. My great-great grandfather got killed in 1918. The family returned to Germany. I''m Dutch and found out researching the family history.

[claudiamcghin]

My great-great grandparents were Volga Germans who immigrated to Kansas in the U.S. in the late 1800s.

[Sheckles]

My dads side of the family was Volga german. Essentially everyone in my family moved to the east coast of the United States in the late 1800s and remained farmers until the 1960s. The 40s generation of my family split everywhere to 8 of the States (California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, Kansas, Colorado, Maine, Washington) and one started a family in Australia. There’s maybe between 250-500 people in my family across the World (mainly the United States) in the same bloodline as those original Volga Germans. My story is to say the diaspora of the Volga Germans is so large it’s hard to visualize.

[jacqlynblattner]

My Family lineage came from Rees Germany to Kamenka Saratov Russia in 1767 during Catherine the great. It has only been in the last 10 years that we have found our History.
My Grandfather was the ONLY one who came to Canada in 1923.

[tomsitzman]

We are the people of two diasporas. First a mass migration from Hessa and the Rohn mountains near the medieval city Folda and the year long journey to the Steeps of Russia creating a German speaking people in isolation starting a setting up villages with a constitution with more freedoms than the USA Constitution farm journal and schools taught in German, churches build to last 500 years and forgotten by the motherland that became the Nation of Germany. 1939 loaded in boxcars and were told they could each bring a suite case and no knowledge where they were going. Ending up in east Kazakhstan or Siberia. The lucky family members where the Lutheran groups that left for the Platte Valley of Nebraska and Colorado, Montana and the Dakotas the Catholics to west Kansas and South America in the 1890's to 1917. The family members who stayed in Western Germany had lost all memory of the people of the Steeps or the family's that had moved to Hungary forty years earlier. The Voga people were called Germans but had never been German because there was no Germany when they left the Principalities. . German but not German. Russian but not Russian. Russian Germans or German Russians, What were we? What are we? in 1988 I was working on my Phd at Virginia. in one of my courses, we had grad student from all over the world. Every class started out with us sitting on a rug reading the papers we had written and passing them around the room to be read by the class. A woman from China in the Anthropology class who translated books from many languages into Chinese, said to me: I can't understand why you speak English and write in English, but your sentence construction is in Russian. At age 48 I realized that I had been living my life in the melting together of three cultures.

[mattlaubhan]

I am descendant of Volga Germans who lived in Tscherbakovka and immigrated to Saginaw, Michigan

[Anna-loves-you]

🖤🖤🖤 I discovered I was related to these people when I did a DNA analysis. My grandmother always told the story we were Russian royalty, which we all laughed at, but she was a little bit right in the end😂😂😂

[elvinkitz]

Im a descendant of volga germans from Russia living in Canada.

[gigachad-gn]

Volga German descendant here, learned my ancestors came to America in the 20th century.

[Deathamphetamne]

I am descended from Volga Germans who immigrated to Colorado, USA.

[marchauchler]

The Volga Germans' success can be attributed to a combination of factors, including their strong work ethic, community ties, education, diverse skills, and entrepreneurial spirit. While their history is marked by hardship and displacement, their resilience and determination enabled many to build successful lives and businesses worldwide in particular Germany, the US and South America.

[Lt.Col.CottonHill]

Did the ancestry tests and research to find that my dad's side is all Polish born Germans living in the Russian empires southwest area. Not sure what they were called but seems too far north to be considered Black Sea Germans I would think. Mass immigration of ethnic Germans back to the German empire was also happening before WW 1, my family was part of this shortly before emigrating the U.S. Those that stayed would later regret it. My family is lucky they left when they did. It wasn't just WW 2 that created the hardships for the ethnic Germans who stayed, it started before that according to the research I did.
The outbreak of World War I in 1914 caused great difficulty for the ethnic Germans in Russia. Although they fought and died in Russian military campaigns, they, as a class, were accused of being spies and saboteurs. The German language was forbidden in their schools and churches, and German-language newspapers were prohibited. Innumerable German-Russians were deported to Siberia for "crimes against the state."

With the Russian Revolution of 1917, a period of lawlessness prevailed throughout Russia for several years. Robber bands raided the German villages, ruthlessly murdering many of the Germans. Germans living on estates were driven from their homes with only an hour's notice. Russian regiments revolted, killing their officers, and the Russian soldiers added to the period of lawlessness. The Russian Revolution brought much misery to the German-Russians with many displaced to Siberia and Middle Asia.

[OscarStigen]

Interesting subject, though I'm not very fond of the AI Attenborough voice.